Silent No More

Are you being Stalked?

Information created and provided by the Maine Office of the Attorney General

MESSAGE FROM MAINE ATTORNEY G. STEVEN ROWE

Stalking is a serious crime that inflicts great fear, anxiety and devastation on victims. Many victims do not report stalking behavior because they do not know the behavior is criminal, they don’t believe police can help or they believe it is safer not to anger the stalker. Instead of reporting, victims often try to manage the stalking behavior, sometimes changing everything about their personal life to avoid contact with the stalker. Sadly, often the first time a law enforcement agency learns of long-term, significant stalking behavior is after another serious crime, like physical or sexual assault or homicide, has been committed by the stalker.

Recognizing that more needs to be done to address the issue of stalking, early in 2006, I convened the Attorney General’s Anti-Stalking Task Force to review state laws, to identify gaps in services and resources available to victims, and to make recommendations regarding how laws, services and resources can be improved. The Task Force drafted modifications to the stalking law and civil protection law, trained law enforcement, prosecutors and advocates and engaged in a public awareness campaign.

This guide is a part of the public awareness campaign and it is intended to help people understand what stalking is and how to access helpful resources.

If you think you are a victim of stalking, please contact someone for help. You can get free, confidential advice and support through Maine’s domestic violence helpline and the sexual assault crisis and support line. Local law enforcement officers can also provide support and protection and will work diligently to hold the stalker accountable.

Through our efforts, we hope to reduce stalking incidents in Maine and to make our communities safer.

G. Steven Rowe

WHAT IS STALKING?
Stalking refers to a course of conduct by one person directed at another person that would cause a reasonable person to fear injury or death or to suffer emotional distress or serious inconvenience. While stalkers still use traditional means to track, threaten and harass their victims, such as following or calling a person or unexpectedly coming to a person’s house or place of employment, they are increasingly using technology to track victims. Stalkers are using GPS, track phones, spyware and other devices to engage in stalking behavior.

Stalking is a crime in all 50 states. Stalking can and does lead to other crimes such as property damage, physical violence, sexual assault, and murder.

Nationally, 1 in 12 women and 1 in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime. About one million women and three hundred thousand men are stalked annually.

In Maine, nearly 12% of respondent to the 2007 Maine Crime Victimization Survey reported being the victims of stalking in the previous twelve months. Stalking victims are nearly four times as likely to be victimized by property or violent crime than people who are not victims of stalking.

WHO IS A STALKER?
Anyone can be a stalker – a former intimate partner, acquaintance, coworker, neighbor, or a stranger.
• 77% of female stalking victims and 64% of male stalking victims know the stalker;
• 87% of stalkers are men;
• Nearly 60% of female stalking victims are stalked by intimate partners’
• 81% of women stalked by a current or former intimate partner are also physically assaulted by that partner;
• 76% of women who were murdered by an intimate partner had been stalked by their intimate partner.

Some stalkers have mental illness, some do not. Some stalkers have criminal records, some do not. The reality is, there is no one “type” of stalker. The common thread is that stalkers use threats, intimidation or physical force in an attempt to control the victim.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BEING STALKED
• If you are in immediate danger, please call 911
• Trust your instincts. If you feel unsafe, call for help.
• Always take threats seriously.
• Do NOT return calls or respond to attempts from the stalker to contact you.
• Talk with your local law enforcement. It is important to notify them of that is happening. The stalker may have broken other laws by stealing or vandalizing your property.
• Document the conduct. Keep an incident log. Use the chart below to record any stalking conduct. Document each time the stalker contacts you and your response. Give police a copy of your incident log with dates and times. This report may become public so use a postal box address to protect privacy.
• Keep evidence when stalking occurs. This can include things as simple as keeping emails, phone messages, and letters that the stalker has sent you.
• Tell people about the stalking and seek out support. Be sure to notify any security at your workplace or school. Do not be afraid to ask them to watch for this person or walk you to your car.
• Call for help. Advocates can help design a personalized safety plan, give information on laws and provide options and advice on places to go to seek help.

Statewide Sexual Assault Crisis and Support Line 1-800-871-7741
Statewide Domestic Violence Helpline 1-866-834-HELP

• Visit the Stalking Resource Center at http://www.ncvc.org/src/ to find more info.
• If you’re stalked across state lines, contact your local FBI office. They are located in Portland, Augusta or Bangor.

Stalking Incident Log
Date Time Incident Type Officer
Name
Phone
Badge # Report #
Location (home/work/car, etc.) Incident Witness Information
Name
Address
Phone

Date Time Incident Type Officer
Name
Phone
Badge # Report #
Location (home/work/car, etc.) Incident Witness Information
Name
Address
Phone

HELP IS AVAILABLE
Help is available to any victim through the local domestic violence projects and sexual assault support centers. You do not have to be a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault to seek help.